Insect-catcher.



A H. LEE: INQECT CATCHER. APPLICATION FILED AI'R. 14, 1909.

ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 8, 1910.

ALBERT H. LEE, OF CANBY, OREGON.

INSECT-CATCHER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT H. LEE, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Canby, in the county of Clackamas and State of Oregon, haveinvented a new and Improved Insect-Catcher, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to certain improvements in insect catchers, andmore particularly to that type in which a vessel or c011- tainercontaining a poisonous or insect-destroying liquid is placed injuxtaposition to some means for attracting the insects.

In my improved construction I employ a fruit, preferably in a partiallydecayed condition, as the bait, and utilize the container of poisonousor destroying liquid as the cover 01' top for the fruit container. Inconnection with these containers, I preferably employ a lightsuspendedwith its lower portion adjacent the surface of the liquid, so as toattract the insects at night.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part ofthis specification, in which the figure shows a perspective View of adevice constructed in accordance with my invention.

In the specific form illustrated, I employ acontainer for the fruit orother substance constituting the bait, and so construct the containerthat the insects may readily gain access thereto, and the odor of thebait may freely escape and be wafted in all directions by the wind. As asimple form of container, I may employ a barrel 10, having a series ofopenings 11 cut in the sides thereof, so that the barrel may be filledapproximately half full of fruit, which constitutes the bait. The fruitemployed is partially decayed and thus serves more effectively as abait. Above the barrel 10 is placed a pan 12, which constitutes a coverfor the barrel, and'the barrel constitutes a support for the pan. Thepan is partially filled with kerosene oil or any other suitable liquidwhich will kill or destroy insects falling therein. The liquid maycontain a poison or may act on the insects in any other way to killthem. By the term poisonous liquid I wish to cover any liquid injuriousto insect life. The bottom of the pan is illustrated as beingsubstantially the same diameter as the head of the barrel, and the sidesof the pan diverge outwardly so that the pan serves to Specification ofLetters Patent.

Application filed April 14, 1 909.

Patented Feb. 8, 1910. Serial No. 489,796.

prevent the admission of rain water to the barrel. Arranged about thebarrel and pan is a tripod 13, having a depending hook 14 at the apexthereof, and suspended from this hook'is a lantern 15 or any othersuitable form of illuminating means. The lantern is so placed that thelower surface thereof comes closely adjacent the surface of the liquid,and it being directly over the center of the pan, the insects strikingagainst the chimney or globe of the lantern and falling downwardlytherefrom, will be caught in the liquid.

In my improved insect catcher, the light operates to attract theinsects, as is wellknown and understood. The light cannot be seen to anygreat distance in the daytime, and thus operates very ineffectually byitself to attract the insects. The light, of course, operates very wellat night, but it is in the daytime that the most insects are flyingabout.

By means of my improved device, the odor of the fruit as it freelyescapes from the container, may attract the insects from all directions,irrespective of the light, and after the insects come into closeproximity to the container, the light is seen by them and they flytoward it only to become partially dazed and fall into the liquid belowthe light.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent:

An insect destroyer, comprising a barrel having a continuous circularband at the top thereof and having openings cut in the side to permitthe insert-ion of fruit or other odoriferous material, a circular panadapted to contain liquid and detachably placed upon the top of saidbarrel and constituting a cover for the same, a tripod supported uponthe ground and disposed adjacent the barrel and the pan and having thelegs thereof holding said pan against lateral displacement, and a lightsuspended from said tripod adjacent the surface of the pan.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALBERT H. LEE.

Vitnesses E. E. BRADTL, WILLIAM KNIGHT.

